Seattle vs Austin Cost of Living Comparison
Seattle, WA vs Austin, TX, Salary, Taxes & Housing
Compare take-home pay, housing costs, and monthly affordability between Seattle and Austin. This page is built to help you look past headline salary and see what a move may actually do to your budget.
At a glance, single filer on $100,000
What to pay attention to when comparing Seattle and Austin
Washington and Texas both skip a state income tax on wages, so the tax change here is small. This move is mostly about housing and everyday costs.
Seattle workers do pay Washington's employee-paid programs for paid family leave and long-term care, which Texas does not have, and Austin rents are lower than Seattle's, though by a smaller margin than in many other moves.
Austin's property tax rate is well above Seattle's, so a buyer can find that the lower price of a home does not translate into a much lower monthly cost.
Worked example: $100,000 salary in Seattle and Austin
A single filer earning $100,000 a year, taking the standard deduction and saving nothing to a 401(k), keeps $6,483 a month in Seattle (22.2% of pay goes to tax) and $6,598 a month in Austin (20.8%). The difference is +$116 a month before housing; after the typical rent in each city, Austin leaves more each month, by $447.
| Per year unless noted | Seattle | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax and payroll tax | $20,820 | $20,820 | +$0 |
| State and local taxes | $1,387 | $0 | -$1,387 |
| Take-home pay a year | $77,793 | $79,180 | +$1,387 |
| Take-home pay a month | $6,483 | $6,598 | +$116 |
| Typical rent (Census, recent movers) | $2,001 | $1,670 | -$331 |
| Left each month after rent | $4,482 | $4,928 | +$447 |
Local taxes involved
- Seattle: no WA state income tax on wages, employee-paid state programs (Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (employee share), Washington WA Cares Fund) of $1,387.
- Austin: no TX state income tax on wages.
- If you buy: effective property tax is about 0.78% of home value in Seattle and 1.44% in Austin, on typical recent-buyer home values of $867,700 and $607,200.
Computed with the site's 2026 tax engine; rent and home values are from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 to 2024 American Community Survey). Planning estimate, not tax advice. Try your own salary and costs in the calculator.
$622 a month more · $7,340 upfront
Leave a field blank to use the estimate shown in it. These feed cash needed upfront and the time to earn back the cost.
Is your household better off after this move?
Seattle → Austin, comparing what you keep each month now and after the move.
Monthly change
+$622
Range −$257 to +$1,500
First-year impact
+$3,461
12 months of change minus $4,000 spent. Range −$8,081 to +$15,003
Cash needed upfront
$7,340
Includes a refundable deposit. Range $5,505 to $9,175
Time to earn back the cost
7 mo
Best case 2 mo, worst case never
Why it changes, per month
No separate current income entered, so pay is assumed unchanged. Enter your current salary in the field above to include a raise or pay cut.
| Per month | Now | After the move |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $8,359 | $8,533 |
| Left over after housing and other costs | $4,538 | $5,160 |
The range changes only figures this site estimated: housing by 10%, living costs by 15% and one-time costs by 25%, in the worse direction for the low end and the better direction for the high end. Figures you typed do not move. These spreads are planning assumptions.
Estimated by this site, not entered by you
Living costs in both cities are also estimates. Enter your own in the living-cost fields above to replace the new city's.
Example results from sample inputs. Change any field to see your own numbers.
This move leaves you about $622 more each month.
You will need about $7,340 upfront, including refundable deposits. The one-time costs are earned back in about 7 months.
8 of these figures are estimates. Replace them with your own in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
This move looks financially healthy based on your inputs.
| Case | Monthly change | Cash upfront | Months to earn back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costs higher than estimated | -$257 | $9,175 | Not earned back |
| As estimated | +$622 | $7,340 | 7 |
| Costs lower than estimated | +$1,500 | $5,505 | 2 |
| Metric | Seattle | Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Net monthly | $8,359 | $8,533 |
| Housing | $2,171est. | $1,840 |
| Essentials | $1,650 | $1,533 |
| Left after essentials | $4,538 | $5,160 |
Austin is roughly 13% less expensive than Seattle.
$150,000 is at or above what's typically needed to match your current budget in Austin, which is 13% less expensive than Seattle. You may have room to negotiate for equity, remote flexibility, or other terms instead of base salary.
City data and planning assumptions are starting estimates. Replace them with a real rent quote, your own bills and moving quotes in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
- Offer salary$150,000Sample value
- Current salaryEnter your current salary if it differsSame as offerPlanning assumption
- Monthly rent in the new city$1,670City data
- GroceriesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$541/moCity data
- UtilitiesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$221/moCity data
- TransportationNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$271/moCity data
- Dining out$300/moPlanning assumption
- Subscriptions and misc$200/moPlanning assumption
- Movers or truck$1,500Planning assumption
- Travel and storage$500Planning assumption
- Furniture and setup$2,000Planning assumption
- Refundable deposit$3,340Planning assumption
City data · Planning assumption · Sample value. City data is published Census or BEA data for the city you chose; where BEA price levels scale the site's national budgets, the budget itself is a planning assumption. Planning assumptions are the site's starting estimates, not quotes or forecasts. Sample values are placeholders until you enter your own.
Who moves from Washington to Texas
In the latest IRS migration data (2022-23), 9,863 households (19,119 people) filed their taxes in Texas after filing in Washington the year before. Texas ranks number 3 among the states people leave Washington for. These households reported an average adjusted gross income of $119,401. Going the other way, 9,307 households moved from Texas to Washington, a net gain of 556 households for Texas.
Five-year trend
Moves from Washington to Texas peaked in 2021-22 at 11,775 households, then fell 16% by 2022-23. That is up 38% from 2018-19.
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7,128 | 8,387 | 10,829 | 11,775 | 9,863 |
Where people from Washington actually move
- California: 17,871 households
- Oregon: 12,212 households
- Texas: 9,863 households
- Arizona: 8,011 households
- Idaho: 6,151 households
- Florida: 5,661 households
- New York: 3,513 households
- Colorado: 3,480 households
Source: IRS Statistics of Income state-to-state migration files, tax years 2018-19 to 2022-23. The IRS publishes state totals, not city-to-city moves, and counts only people who filed a return in both years.
2026 taxes on $100,000: Seattle and Austin
| Measure | Seattle | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | +$0 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $7,650 | $7,650 | +$0 |
| State income tax | $0 | $0 | +$0 |
| City income tax | $0 | $0 | +$0 |
| State payroll programs | $1,387 | $0 | -$1,387 |
| Take-home pay | $77,793 | $79,180 | +$1,387 |
| Share of pay paid in tax | 22.2% | 20.8% |
Single filer, wages only, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution. Federal figures follow IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; state and city rules are listed on the methodology page.
Seattle vs Austin take-home pay at every salary
The salary needed in Austin to match each Seattle salary, and take-home pay in both cities.
| Salary | Equal salary in Austin | Take-home change | Take-home in Seattle | Take-home in Austin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $43,000 | +$694 | $41,661 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $63,800 | +$1,040 | $60,552 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $85,000 | +$1,387 | $77,793 | $79,180 |
| $150,000 | $127,700 | +$2,081 | $111,710 | $113,791 |
| $250,000 | $213,700 | +$2,939 | $180,243 | $183,182 |
"Equal salary" keeps the same after-tax buying power: after-tax pay divided by the local price level is the same in both cities. At higher incomes, itemizing deductions (such as state and local taxes) can lower federal tax and narrow the gap shown.
Cost of living: Seattle vs Austin
| Measure | Seattle | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 111.1 | 98.1 | -13.1 |
| Housing price level | 151.3 | 120.4 | -31.0 |
| Utilities price level | 92.8 | 82.0 | -10.8 |
| Goods price level | 104.0 | 93.8 | -10.2 |
| Typical rent (monthly) | $2,001 | $1,670 | -$331 |
| Typical home value | $867,700 | $607,200 | -$260,500 |
| Median property tax paid (yearly) | $7,337 | $8,024 | +$687 |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.78% | 1.44% | |
| Residential electricity (cents per kWh) | 14.40 | 16.06 | +1.66 |
Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for each city's metro area (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026)). Rent, home value and property tax are U.S. Census Bureau figures (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)). Typical rent and home value use recent movers where the sample is reliable, so they reflect what a new renter or buyer pays now.
Renting and buying: Seattle vs Austin
| Measure | Seattle | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income to rent the typical home (30% rule) | $80,040 | $66,800 | -$13,240 |
| Monthly cost to own the typical home (20% down) | $5,102 | $3,949 | -$1,153 |
| Income to buy the typical home (28% rule) | $218,660 | $169,230 | -$49,430 |
Owning cost is the mortgage payment on the typical home with 20% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% (the calculator's starting rate, not a quote), plus the city's typical property tax rate and $150 a month for insurance. HOA fees and maintenance are not included. The calculator below lets you change the rate, down payment and prices.
Your yearly budget: Seattle vs Austin
On $100,000 the taxes and housing you can compare directly come to $46,219 a year in Seattle and $40,860 in Austin if you rent: $5,359 less after the move.
| Measure | Seattle | Austin | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes | $22,207 | $20,820 | -$1,387 |
| If you rent: yearly rent | $24,012 | $20,040 | -$3,972 |
| Taxes plus rent | $46,219 | $40,860 | -$5,359 |
| If you buy: mortgage, property tax and insurance | $61,224 | $47,384 | -$13,840 |
| Taxes plus owning the home | $83,431 | $68,204 | -$15,228 |
Not included: food, transportation, car and health insurance, child care, utilities beyond those in gross rent, sales tax and one-time moving costs. These are the costs the tax and housing data can compare, not total spending. Use the calculator below for moving costs and the full monthly budget.
Where to go next
- See the FIRE impact: enter your own numbers and use the Move tab to see how a different cost of living changes your timeline.
- Rank cities for FIRE: see which cities get you there soonest.
- Plan it in detail: model withdrawals, taxes and Social Security year by year (Beta).
Frequently asked questions
- How much salary do I need in Austin to live like I do in Seattle?
- A $100,000 salary in Seattle has about the same buying power as $85,000 in Austin once 2026 federal, state and local taxes and BEA regional price levels are counted.
- Will I pay less tax in Austin than in Seattle?
- Yes: on $100,000 a single filer pays $1,387 a year less in income and payroll taxes in Austin (20.8% of pay, against 22.2% in Seattle). Property tax and sales tax are shown separately.
- Is Austin cheaper than Seattle?
- Overall prices in the Austin area are 11.8% lower than in the Seattle area (BEA Regional Price Parities). Typical rent is $1,670 a month in Austin against $2,001 in Seattle.
- How much income do I need to rent or buy in Austin?
- To keep rent at 30% of income, about $66,800 a year covers the typical rent of $1,670. Owning the typical home with 20% down costs about $3,949 a month, which takes about $169,230 a year at 28% of income.
- How many people move from Washington to Texas?
- IRS migration data for 2022-23 show 9,863 households (19,119 people) that filed in Washington the year before filing in Texas. Texas ranks number 3 among destinations for people leaving Washington. 9,307 households moved the other way. These are state totals, not city totals.
Sources and limits
Written and maintained by Relocation By Numbers. Figures were generated on 2026-10-13 from the sources below, and the tax rules are those for tax year 2026. Full methodology
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): Social Security wage base and payroll tax rates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)): rent, home value and property tax
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026))
- IRS Statistics of Income, state-to-state migration data (2018-19 to 2022-23)
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B (Year-to-date through July 2026, released September 24, 2026)
- State and city income tax rules, by state
Not included
- Itemized deductions, tax credits and dependents; the figures are for a single filer on wages.
- Neighborhood-level rent and home prices, which can differ widely from a city median.
- Moving costs, car costs, health insurance, child care, food and sales tax.
Was this helpful? What's missing?
How to read this Seattle vs Austin comparison
Start with take-home pay
Because this move crosses state lines, start by checking whether the change in state tax treatment materially improves take-home pay.
Then check housing pressure
Housing is usually the largest expense in a move. A tax win can disappear fast if rent, home prices, insurance, or ownership costs rise enough.
Focus on monthly flexibility
The most useful question is simple: after essential costs, do you have more room, less room, or roughly the same room in your budget?
Who this comparison is most useful for
Best for people who want to compare housing, not taxes
This comparison is most useful for Seattle renters and buyers who already pay no state income tax and want to see whether Austin's housing market changes their monthly budget.
What this comparison includes, and what it does not
Included
- Estimated state and federal tax differences
- Housing-related affordability differences
- Monthly budget comparison between the two cities
- Comparable salary planning estimate
Not fully modeled
- Neighborhood-level rent variation
- Childcare, school, or family-specific costs
- Detailed insurance and healthcare variation
- One-time moving or closing costs
This page is built for planning direction and tradeoffs, not perfect prediction. It is most useful as a first-pass comparison before you plug in exact housing and household numbers.
Seattle vs Austin, common questions
- Is Austin cheaper than Seattle?
- It depends on your income, housing choice, and monthly cost structure. This page compares both cities using the same salary assumptions so you can see whether the destination actually improves affordability for your situation.
- How does moving from Seattle to Austin affect taxes?
- Because this move crosses state lines, state tax treatment can change your take-home pay. The calculator applies each state's tax rules so you can compare the net effect more realistically.
- What salary do I need in Austin to match my lifestyle in Seattle?
- The comparable salary estimate is designed to show the gross income you may need in Austin to maintain a similar monthly budget after taxes, housing, and core cost differences are considered.
- Why is housing such a big part of this comparison?
- Because housing is usually the biggest recurring expense in a move. In many cases, it matters more than the salary headline and can either reinforce or erase a tax advantage.
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